Police Escort Fallen Officer

Navajo Times | Krista AllenNavajo Nation Police officers from at least three districts escort the body of fallen Kayenta Police Officer Nelson L. Martin. The officers made a stop at the Kayenta Public Safety Complex en route to a funeral home in Shiprock.

Martin, 35, was killed in a vehicle accident on Monday night in Gray Mountain, Arizona. He was a passenger in a pickup truck that crashed into a semi.

The truck was driven by Rosales Yazzie who was badly injured and was transported to a hospital where he is recovering. Yazzie was intoxicated at the time, and could be facing vehicular manslaughter charges. He is not a police officer.

Martin was was hired in 2002 as a senior police officer for Kayenta Police District. He was promoted in 2007.

Martin was originally from Tsébii’ndzisgaii, Utah.

Martin’s funeral took place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tsébii’ndzisgaii.

Editor’s Note: This article was first published by the Navajo Times. Used with permission. All rights reserved.